GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO:5074 ANSWERED ON:27.04.2010 MOU ON HIGHWAY MANAGEMENT Patil Shri Sanjay Dina ;Sule Supriya

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) whether a Group of Ministers has been constituted to look into the draft cooperation agreement on highways management signed with Malaysia;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether objections have been raised on certain clauses of the said agreement;

(d) if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the time by which the GoM is likely to submit its report and a final decision would be taken in this regard? Answer

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI R.P.N. SINGH)

(a) to (e) Yes, Sir. A Note seeking approval of the Union Cabinet to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Malaysia in the field of Technical Assistance Services on Highway Management and Development was sent by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRT&H). The Union Cabinet decided that the matter may, in the first instance, be considered by a Group of Ministers (GoM). Accordingly, the Government constituted a Group of Ministers comprising Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Minister of Finance; Shri P. Chidambaram, Minister of Home Affairs; Shri S. M. Krishna, Minister of Law and Justice; and Shri Kamal Nath, Minister of Road Transport and Highways with Shri Montek Singh Ahulwalia, Deputy Chairman, Planning Commission as a Special Invitee. MoRT&H has to service the Group of Ministers. The matter has not so far been brought before GoM.